Bayern Munich’s Josip Stanisic found himself at the center of controversy during his team’s dramatic Champions League exit at the San Siro. In the dying moments of the match against Inter Milan, the Croatian defender pushed a ball boy to the ground while trying to quickly retrieve the ball.
The incident happened in stoppage time as Bayern desperately chased a goal that would take the tie to extra time. The ball boy, who was sitting on a stool, appeared to delay the return of the ball and even threw it in the opposite direction. Frustrated, Stanisic lost his cool and shoved the youngster, causing him to fall.
Inter Milan’s bench immediately reacted to the incident, with tempers flaring on the sidelines. Surprisingly, it was not Stanisic who received a card, but a member of Inter’s coaching staff, who was shown a yellow for his reaction. The referee seemed to miss Stanisic’s aggressive behavior.
Bayern Munich makes Champions League exit
Despite Bayern's late efforts, they could not find the goal they needed. The match ended 2-2, and with Inter having won the first leg in Munich, they advanced to the semi-finals with a 4-3 win on aggregate.
Harry Kane gave Bayern hope with a goal early in the second half, but Inter responded quickly with goals from Lautaro Martinez and ex-Bayern player Benjamin Pavard. Eric Dier, another former Tottenham player, scored the equaliser for Bayern on the night, but it wasn't enough.
The result means Bayern will miss out on a chance to play the final at their home ground, the Allianz Arena. The last time the final was held there was in 2012, when Bayern lost to Chelsea. This time, they won’t even get the chance to fight for the trophy on home soil.
